Automatic ball-throwing machine

ABSTRACT

A ball-throwing apparatus for throwing balls utilizing pressurized air and a fast-action valve. The barrel and breech are enclosed by a rotating cage containing a supply of the balls wherein a single ball is selected from the tumbling supply of balls by an L-shape leg member attached to the cage and leading to an opening in the barrel. The device includes randomly varied ball trajectory structure which is in the form of an adjustable bleeder valve venting air, to the atmosphere at different rates to vary the pressure which is discharging the ball and, or, movable fingers which randomly project into the path of a discharged ball to carom the ball into a different path. The varied trajectory structure can be manually controlled or prearranged by timer-driven cam discs.

United States Patent [151 3,640,263

Rhodes Feb. 8, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC BALL-THROWING FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS MACHINE Barry V. Rhodes, 22358 Baltar St, Canoga Park,Calif. 91303 Filed: Apr. 22, 1970 Appl. No.: 30,903

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 723,149, Apr. 22,1968, abandoned.

[72] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,923,286 2/1960 Draganti..124/13A 3,018,769 Parsoneault 124/ 1 l 1,377,593 9/1964 France..124/11 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerRicha.rdDror Attorney-Sellers and Brace ABSTRACT A ball-throwing apparatus forthrowing balls utilizing pressurized air and a fast-action valve. Thebarrel and breech are enclosed by a rotating cage containing a supply ofthe balls wherein a single ball is selected from the tumbling supply ofballs by an L-shape leg member attached to the cage and leading to anopening in the barrel. The device includes randomly varied balltrajectory structure which is in the form of an adjustable bleeder valveventing air, to the atmosphere at different rates to vary the pressurewhich is discharging the ball and, or, movable fingers which randomlyproject into the path of a discharged ball to carom the ball into adifferent path. The varied trajectory structure can be manuallycontrolled or prearranged by timer-driven cam discs.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures IIIIIIII. "1 55 amazes WWW W 8!??? INVENTOR5,466 1 EHOQS AUTOMATIC BALL-THROWING MACHINE This application is adivision of my application for U5. Letters Patent Ser. No. 723,149 filedApr. 22, 1968 entitled Automatic Ball-Throwing Machine and sinceabandoned.

This invention relates to ball-throwing machines and more particularlyto an improved apparatus of this type having unique means for selectinga single ball to be thrown and means for directing successive ballsalong different trajectories selected in random order.

There are available in the prior-art numerous machines for throwingballs but these are subject to numerous shortcomings and disadvantagessought to be eliminated by the present invention. Among the problemsencountered in the use of these machines is the malfunctioning of theball-loading means. It is desirable to provide an ample supply ofreserve balls from which balls are selected in succession for ejectionfrom the apparatus. Theoretically it would appear that any of the manyprior proposals made for selecting and feeding balls into the ejectionapparatus would be equally satisfactory and free from hang-up problems.Actually hang-up is one of the very frustrating andtroublesome problemstypical of this type of equipment. It may occur only once in balls oronce in 25 balls, but regardless of the intervals between hang-ups, theproblem is not only irksome to those using the machine but can create ahazard owing to the fact that the hang-up may release unexpectedly andwithout warning followed by the forcible ejection of the ball from theapparatus against an unsuspecting player or a serviceman in its path.Accordingly, the possibility of a hang-up only once in 100 or 500 ballscan create hazards and can render the machine unsafe and unsaleable.

It is also desirable that a ball-throwing machine have the capability ofvarying the ball trajectory to add interest and to develop the skill ofpersons using the machine. Prior devices have been proposed equippedwith adjustable means for altering the ball trajectory but these havethe disadvantage of requiring an operator to change the adjustment eachtime it is desired to change the path of the ball.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide aball-throwing machine which is thoroughly reliable and trouble free asrespects each of theaforementioned and other shortcomings of priormachines. To this end, the present apparatus features a gun barrelhaving simple unfailing means for selecting a single ball from atumbling mass of balls and delivering it into the barrel breech betweenball-throwing cycles. This subassembly includes ball selecting andfeeding means operating in synchronism with valve means controlling thecharging port into the barrel breech. The apparatus also includes aplurality of separately controlled ball-directing means located oppositethe barrel muzzle and selectively operable to carom the ball as itleaves the apparatus and, if desired, to also spin the ball as it iscaromed. As herein disclosed by way of illustration, the ball-caromingmeans can loft the ball, or carom it to the right or to the left tosimulate serving a tennis ball into the right or the left service courtand these altering operations can be performed in any random ordereither in accordance with a prearranged automatically operatingprogramming schedule, or manually under the control of an attendant forthe apparatus. Another feature comprises simple adjustable means forvarying the throwing range.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide animproved, highly versatile ball-throwing machine for throwing ballsautomatically in rapid succession.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automaticallycycling ball-throwing machine having improved means for loading a singleball at a time into a ball-ejecting barrel without risk of hang-up ormalfunctioning.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automaticallycycling ball-throwing apparatus for tumbling a reserve supply of ballsas a single one is selected for freerolling discharge into the barrelbreech.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automaticball-throwing machine having simple means for varying the throwing rangeof the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ballthrowingapparatus having trajectory altering means having both manual andautomatic programming means optionally usable to vary the trajectory ofsuccessive balls.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading thefollowing specification and claims and upon considering in connectiontherewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of the essential features of the inventionball-throwing apparatus with portions of the apparatus shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 22 on FIG.I as the ball is about to gravitate into the barrel breech;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view taken along line 3--3 on FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the electrical control for the ball trajectorycontrol means.

Referring initially more particularly to FIG. I, there is shownessential components of the invention ball-throwing apparatus andincorporating improvements on the same constructions disclosed in mycopending applications for US. Letters Patent, Ser. No. 497,763, filedOct. 19, 1965, entitled Automatic Ball-Throwing Machine for use bySportsmen, now US. Pat. No. 3,400,703, and Ser. No. 537,909, filed Mar.28, 1966, entitled Automatic Ball-Throwing Machine and since maturedinto U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,073. It will be understood that the apparatusmay be mounted on a suitable main frame 11 only a portion of which isshown herein and preferably supported on carriage wheels for conveniencein moving the apparatus from place to place.

Supported on frame 11 is an air compressor 12 driven through a speedreduction connection 13 by a motor 14. This motor is also connected bybelting 15 to a large diameter drive pulley 16 closing one end of ballmagazine 17 supported for rotation about the axis of gun barrel 18. Thisbarrel is rigidly secured to main frame 11 at an appropriate angle tothe horizontal and has a relatively large diameter direct tubularconnection 19 with reservoir 20 for pressurized air. This reservoir isreplenished with air from compressor 12 via conduit 21 equipped near itsjunction with the reservoir by a fail-safe pressure release valve 22.This valve operates in known manner to dump the contents of thereservoir whenever motor 14 is deenergized or upon a power failure. Thisavoids any possibility of the apparatus throwing a ball unexpectedly andafter the apparatus has been deactivated.

The air reservoir is also provided with a manually adjustable needlevalve 23 which operates to vent air to the atmosphere at a variable ratedepending on the particular adjusted position thereof. As will beapparent, the setting determines the air pressure which can be developedin the reservoir during the time valve control switch 26 is closed andthis pressure determines the pressure energy available to throw the ballat the instant valve 24 suddenly opens. The compressor operates atuniform speed but a variable amount of air is allowed to bleed to theatmosphere via bleed valve 23 before valve 24 opens for the nextthrowing cycle.

The release of air from reservoir 20 into the barrel is controlled by afast-action pressure differential flow control valve 24 having aconstruction well known to persons skilled in the valve art and readilyavailable in the marketplace. Valve 24 is normally closed and is openedabruptly by a solenoid 25 when the latter is energized by a normallyopen microswitch 26 as shown in FIG. 1 and adapted to be closed brieflyby a cam 27 mounted on the exterior of pulley 16 (FIG. 2) and rotatingtherewith. Cam 27 is positioned to close switch 26 when ball magazine 17has rotated approximately from the position shown in FIG. 2. When open,valve 24 allows the high-pressure air from the reservoir to flow throughconduit 19 into the breech end of barrel 18. At this time a single ballwill be resting against the slightly reduced forward end of conduit 19.

Rotating magazine 17 for the reserve supply of balls may be formed ofany light weight material with its flanged rim 29 secured to the rim ofpulley 16. The smaller end of the magazine has a radially narrowinturned flange 30 terminating short of the ball-charging tube 32mounted on a plate 33 demountable secured to the main frame of theapparatus. Barrel 18 passes through this plate and into a tubular member34 secured to plate 33. Suitably mounted about the lower half of tube 34are a plurality of brackets 35, each pivotally supporting a separatefinger 37, 38 and 39 operable to alter the trajectory of the ball as itis propelled from the end of barrel 18. Each of the fingers is pivotallyconnected to brackets by pivot pin 40 and is normally urged to aretracted position by a compression spring 41. The inner shorter end ofthe fingers is pivotally connected to the armature of a solenoid 44, 45,46. The outer end of each finger may be provided with a pad 48 having aroughened surface effective to impart spin to the ball as the ballcontacts this surface while being propelled from the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a schematic of the control circuitfor fingers 37, 38 and 39. This circuit includes a timer motor 50 on theshaft of which is mounted separate cam discs 52, 53, 54 for opening andclosing an associated one of switches 55, 56, 57 to control the supplyof power to solenoids 44, 45, and 46, respectively. The rim of each ofthe cam discs is provided with notches or the like camming means forclosing one of the switches for a short interval as the timer motorrotates. As shown in FIG. 4, switch 55 is closed and solenoid 44 isenergized, whereas each of switches 56 and 57 controlling solenoids 45,46 is open. It will be understood that the switches operate out ofsynchronism with one another so that only one switch is closed duringany ball-throwing cycle.

The control schematic also includes a selector switch 60 normally closedto the right, or to the left, depending on whether it is desired tooperate the trajectory control fingers automatically or manually. Whenswitch 60 is positioned as shown in FIG. 4, the circuit operatesautomatically under the control of timer motor 50. However, if switch 60is moved to its alternate position, then the solenoids are under thecontrol of the associated manual switches 61, 62 and 63.

The ball selecting and loading means forming an important feature of theinvention includes a valve 65 rotating with pulley 16 and provided withan outwardly flaring radial passage 66, the inner smaller end of whichregisters with the ball charging port 67 in barrel l8 momentarily duringball charging. Pulley 16 rotates clockwise as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 andincludes a ball selector 68 here shown as comprising an L- shaped memberhaving one leg secured to pulley 16 by fasteners 69. Ball selector 68 isso positioned relative to the adjacent edge of passage 66 that a ball 70resting thereon gravitates into passage 66 as the selector approaches a12:00 o'clock position. Any other balls then present on selector 68 fallback into the main group of reserve balls since only a single ball canbe accommodated in passage 66. Shortly thereafter this one ballgravitates through opening 67 into barrel 18 and rolls rearwardlytherealong and into contact with the adjacent end of air tube 19. In themeantime the motor continues to rotate valve 65 to a position closingport 67. It will therefore be recognized that valve 65 serves the dualpurpose of guiding a single ball into the barrel and as a closefittingclosure for port 67 during the ball-ejecting portion of the cycle. Itwill also be apparent that the continuously rotating magazine 17 isconstantly tumbling the reserve supply of balls occupying its lowerhalf. This aids very materially in keeping the balls in a loose,free-flowing group and assures that a new ball will be deposited onselector 68 as it is rotated through the tumbling mass.

The operation of the described apparatus will be readily apparent fromthe foregoing detailed description of its components and theirfunctions. To place the apparatus in use, a quantity of balls is chargedinto the magazine through charging tube 32. This having been done motor14 is started to operate compressor 12 and charge reservoir 20 withcompressed air.

As the reservoir pressure reaches a predetermined pressure governed bythe setting of the pressure control bleed valve 23, cam 27 closes switch26 and momentarily energizes solenoid 25 thereby abruptly opening thefact action valve 24. A large volume of high-pressure air then flowsfrom the reservoir through tube 19 and ejects a ball from the apparatus.No one of the trajector control switches may then be closed and, in thisevent, the ball is propelled directly forwardly from the apparatus.

As ball magazine 17 continues to rotate, ball selector 68 will selectanother ball from the main supply of balls and elevate the selected ballinto passage 66 as this passage rotates into registry with charging port67. While this is occurring compressor l2 restores the air pressure inreservoir 20. By the time the air pressure has increased sufficiently toagain operate switch 26, valve 65 will have rotated to a positionclosing port 67. As this switch operates to open valve 24 for the secondball throwing cycle, one of switches 55, 56 and 57 may be in closedposition. In this case, as the ball is thrown one of the trajectorycontrol fingers 36, 37 or 39 will be positioned to engage the ball as itis propelled out of the barrel thereby caroming it from a straight pathdepending upon which one of the fingers has been activated. As shown inFIG. 4, switch 55 is closed to energize solenoid 44. Accordingly thefinger on the left side of the barrel as viewed from FIG. 3 will havebeen activated thereby causing the ball to be lobbed or to carom to theright. If pad 48 on the finger has been roughened or is ofa texture ornature effective to spin the ball, then the ball will be spun as it isdeflected. If the middle one of the three fingers is energized andelevated then the ball will be lofted or caromed through an upwardlyarched path.

The apparatus continues to operate automatically to project balls insubstantially equally spaced time periods with the trajectory ofsuccessive balls under the control of the caroming mechanism. Thus itwill be understood that the balls may exit in a normal unalteredtrajectory, or may be deflected or caromed to either side or upwardlydepending on which one of the fingers has been activated by anassociated solenoid. Preferably, successive balls are projected indifferent paths and in a random order controlled either by thetimer-driven cam discs 52, 53, 54 or by the manual switches 61, 62, 63.

It will therefore be recognized that the described ballthrowingapparatus is fully automatic and operates to throw balls in any desiredrandomly selected straight or caromed path. The apparatus isparticularly suitable for simulating a tennis player and can be adjustedand arranged to throw balls to any part of the court.

While the particular automatic ball-throwing machine herein shown anddisclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects andproviding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthat it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A ball-throwing apparatus having a barrel the breech end of which isequipped with normally closed fast-action valve means controlling theflow of pressurized air to eject a ball from said barrel and comprisinga member movable between a position closing said charging opening and asecond position clear of said opening, said breech end having aball-charging opening in the wall thereof, valve means closing saidopening during ejection of a ball from said barrel, and meansoperatively associated with said valve means for moving the same to openposition and for simultaneously selecting a single ball only from agroup of balls and then discharging the same through the opening as saidvalve means reaches open position and for closing said valve means priorto abruptly opening said fast-action valve means, said ball-selectingmeans being rotatable about said barrel and cooperable with the exteriorthereof to select a ball and elevate the same about one exterior side ofsaid barrel until the selected ball can fall by gravity through saidcharging opening into the barrel breech.

2. A ballthrowing apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in theprovision of cage means rotatable about the axis of said barrel andoperating to tumble a supply of balls in the path of said ball selectingmeans.

3. A ball-throwing apparatus as defined in claim 2 characterized in theprovision of common means for operating said cage means and saidball-selecting means in unison.

4. A ball-throwing machine having a barrel equipped with means forejecting balls therefrom automatically in succession utilizing a chargeof pressurized air, fast-action valve means for dumping aball-projecting charge of air abruptly behind a ball in the barrelbreech to project the same from the barrel and including switch meansfor controlling the actuation of said fast-action valve means, means forfeeding a ball into the breech of said barrel and including means tooperate said switch to actuate said fast-action valve means after a ballhas been deposited in the breech of said barrel, and adjustable bleedervalve means for venting air to the atmosphere at different rates to varythe pressure in the charge of air released into the barrel breechthereby to vary the trajectory of the ball and the distance traveled bythe ball.

5. A ball-throwing machine as defined in claim 4 characterized in theprovision of power-driven compressor means normally operating at auniform rate to supply pressurized air, means for storing thepressurized air between ball-throwing periods, and said adjustablebleeder means being positioned to vent air from the stored supplythereof between ball-throwing periods to limit the quantity and pressureof air available for each ball-throwing operation.

1. A ball-throwing apparatus having a barrel the breech end of which isequipped with normally closed fast-action valve means controlling theflow of pressurized air to eject a ball from said barrel and comprisinga member movable between a position closing said charging opening and asecond position clear of said opening, said breech end having aball-charging opening in the wall thereof, valve means closing saidopening during ejection of a ball from said barrel, and meansoperatively associated with said valve means for moving the same to openposition and for simultaneously selecting a single ball only from agroup of balls and then discharging the same through the opening as saidvalve means reaches open position and for closing said valve means priorto abruptly opening said fast-action valve means, said ball-selectingmeans being rotatable about said barrel and cooperable with the exteriorthereof to select a ball and elevate the same about one exterior side ofsaid barrel until the selected ball can fall by gravity through saidcharging opening into the barrel breech.
 2. A ball-throwing apparatus asdefined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of cage meansrotatable about the axis of said barrel and operating to tumble a supplyof balls in the path of said ball selecting means.
 3. A ball-throwingapparatus as defined in claim 2 characterized in the provision of commonmeans for operating said cage means and said ball-selecting means inunison.
 4. A ball-throwing machine having a barrel equipped with meansfor ejecting balls therefrom automatically in succession utilizing acharge of pressurized air, fast-action valve means for dumping aball-projecting charge of air abruptly behind a ball in the barrelbreech to project the same from the barrel and including switch meansfor controlling the actuation of said fast-action valve means, means forfeeding a ball into the breech of said barrel and including means tooperate said switch to actuate said fast-action valve means after a ballhas been deposited in the breech of said barrel, and adjustable bleedervalve means for venting air to the atmosphere at different rates to varythe pressure in the charge of air released into the barrel breechthereby to vary the trajectory of the ball and the distance traveled bythe ball.
 5. A ball-throwing machine as defined in claim 4 characterizedin the provision of power-driven compressor means normally operating ata uniform rate to supply pressurized air, means for storing thepressurized air between ball-throWing periods, and said adjustablebleeder means being positioned to vent air from the stored supplythereof between ball-throwing periods to limit the quantity and pressureof air available for each ball-throwing operation.